South Polar Skua
[order] CHARADRIIFORMES | [family] Stercorariidae | [latin] Stercorarius maccormicki | [UK] South Polar Skua | [FR] Labbe de Mac Cormick | [DE] Antarktikskua | [ES] Pagalo Polar | [NL] Zuidpooljager
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Physical charateristics
Near size of Western and Herring gulls, but stockier, with a deep-chested, hunch-shouldered look. Dark, with a short, slightly wedge-shaped tail and conspicuous white wing patch.
“Blond” phase is much paler on head and underparts than dark phase. Flight strong and swift; harasses other seabirds. Dark jaegers may lack tail points, but skuas’ wings are wider, with more striking white patches.
“Blond” phase is much paler on head and underparts than dark phase. Flight strong and swift; harasses other seabirds. Dark jaegers may lack tail points, but skuas’ wings are wider, with more striking white patches.
Listen to the sound of South Polar Skua
[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/S/South Polar Skua.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 140 | cm | wingspan max.: | 160 | cm |
| size min.: | 50 | cm | size max.: | 55 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 24 | days | incubation max.: | 34 | days |
| fledging min.: | 49 | days | fledging max.: | 59 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 1 | ||
| eggs max.: | 3 |
Range
Antarctica : coasts. South Polar skuas are circumpolar and abundant, mainly around the continent and the peninsula. They range far over the polar ice. While adolescent birds may disperse as far as the North Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the adults remain closer to the breeding grounds through the austral winter.
Habitat
Open ocean.
Ranges widely at sea, over both warm and very cold waters. Appears far off North American coast where there are concentrations of other birds from which to steal food. Almost never seen from shore on this continent. Nests in Antarctica, on islands and ma
inland, on barren ground.
Ranges widely at sea, over both warm and very cold waters. Appears far off North American coast where there are concentrations of other birds from which to steal food. Almost never seen from shore on this continent. Nests in Antarctica, on islands and ma
inland, on barren ground.
Reproduction
Courtship involves much posturing and calling; male feeds female. Usually first breeds at age of 5-
6 years; birds usually have same mates and same nest sites every year thereafter. In aggressive display near nest, both wings are raised together over back, head extended forward while bird gives harsh calls.
Nest: Site is on ground. Nest is simple scrape in soil or moss; often begun by male and completed by female.
Eggs: 2, sometimes 1. Olive to brown, blotched with darker brown. Incubation by both sexes, but female does more. Incubation period 24-34 days, usually 28-29.
Young: Both parents feed young, by regurgitation. Young may leave nest soon after hatching, wander in immediate vicinity. Although both eggs usually hatch, usually only one young survives to fledging. Age at first flight 49-
59 days.
6 years; birds usually have same mates and same nest sites every year thereafter. In aggressive display near nest, both wings are raised together over back, head extended forward while bird gives harsh calls.
Nest: Site is on ground. Nest is simple scrape in soil or moss; often begun by male and completed by female.
Eggs: 2, sometimes 1. Olive to brown, blotched with darker brown. Incubation by both sexes, but female does more. Incubation period 24-34 days, usually 28-29.
Young: Both parents feed young, by regurgitation. Young may leave nest soon after hatching, wander in immediate vicinity. Although both eggs usually hatch, usually only one young survives to fledging. Age at first flight 49-
59 days.
Feeding habits
Mainly fish. Diet in North American waters not well
known, but feeds mostly on fish while at sea. On breeding grounds, some feed mainly on the eggs and young of penguins, and on carrion around penguin colonies.
Behavior:
Forages at sea by plunging into water from flight, or by seizing items while sitting on surface. Often steals food from other seabirds: may grab a shearwater or gull with its bill and shake the other bird violently to make it disgorge its catch.
known, but feeds mostly on fish while at sea. On breeding grounds, some feed mainly on the eggs and young of penguins, and on carrion around penguin colonies.
Behavior:
Forages at sea by plunging into water from flight, or by seizing items while sitting on surface. Often steals food from other seabirds: may grab a shearwater or gull with its bill and shake the other bird violently to make it disgorge its catch.
Conservation
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
South polar skuas are fierce predators, often stealing fish from other birds and actively preying on penguin chicks and eggs. The largest South Polar Skua colony in the world is found at Cape Crozier in the Ross Sea
polar skuas are fierce predators, often stealing fish from other birds and actively preying on penguin chicks and eggs. The largest South Polar Skua colony in the world is found at Cape Crozier in the Ross Sea
South polar skuas are fierce predators, often stealing fish from other birds and actively preying on penguin chicks and eggs. The largest South Polar Skua colony in the world is found at Cape Crozier in the Ross Sea
polar skuas are fierce predators, often stealing fish from other birds and actively preying on penguin chicks and eggs. The largest South Polar Skua colony in the world is found at Cape Crozier in the Ross Sea
Migration
Antarctic. Wanders into North Atlantic as far as Greenland and in North Pacific as far as Aleutians. Summer skuas off East Coast may be this one. Migration:
From Antarctic nesting grounds, moves far to the north in both Atlantic and Pacific. Perhaps most common off southern California in late spring, off northern California in early fall, and off New England in early summer, but details still poorly known.
From Antarctic nesting grounds, moves far to the north in both Atlantic and Pacific. Perhaps most common off southern California in late spring, off northern California in early fall, and off New England in early summer, but details still poorly known.
Distribution map
